Note (September 2026): This guide earlier said post offices close on Saturdays and gave one national 8 AM-4 PM timing; post offices work on Saturdays and counter hours vary by office. It also predated the merger of Registered Post into Speed Post and the Speed Post tariff revision, both in force from 1 October 2025.
Post office timings in India are not the same everywhere. Most India Post offices work Monday to Saturday and close on Sundays and gazetted holidays, with counter hours set by each office, commonly opening between 8 and 10 AM and closing between 4 and 6 PM. Large GPOs stay open longer; Chennai GPO, for example, runs 8 AM to 8:30 PM. Check your office with India Post’s Locate Post Office tool.
Key Takeaways
- There is no single national post office timing: counter hours are set office by office, so confirm your local office’s hours before you go.
- Post offices are open on Saturdays, including the second and fourth Saturdays, unless the day is a gazetted holiday. Most are closed on Sundays, but some GPOs and night post offices keep Sunday or late counters.
- India Post’s all-India holiday list for 2026 has 14 closed holidays, from Republic Day (26 January) to Christmas (25 December); postal circles add regional holidays.
- Registered Post was merged into Speed Post, with registration becoming a Speed Post add-on, and Speed Post tariffs were revised; both changes took effect on 1 October 2025, with tariffs starting at Rs 19 plus GST for a local document up to 50 g.
- India Post’s helpline, 1800 266 6868, is staffed from 8 AM to 8 PM, and its IVRS works around the clock except on gazetted holidays.
Indian Post Office is useful for the residents of India in numerous ways. Indeed, even today, the post office assumes a critical part in numerous authority and individual works.
Most people know the post office for letters and parcels, but a wasted trip is easy if you arrive after the counters close. This guide explains post office timings in India, Saturday and Sunday working, lunch breaks, Speed Post hours and India Post holidays. Despite rapid technological change, the Department of Posts remains one of India’s most widely used public services.
What is the Working Time of Indian Post Office?
If you use postal services, it helps to know the post office timings, working days, holidays, lunch breaks and Speed Post booking hours of the office you plan to visit.
Then, at that point, with legitimate information and a plan, you can visit the post office without hanging tight for extended periods of time or returning without accomplishing the work.
Indian Postal Department has branches all over India. Your close-by post office is likewise a part of the Indian Postal Department. Before the post offices came into the image, individuals sent and got letters through couriers. With the assistance of the Indian postal division, individuals deal with no issues.
Lord Dalhousie established the post office on 01 October 1854 and presented the new Indian postal administrations. Today the Indian postal office administrations are administered by the Government of India. India Post is run by the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications, with its headquarters at Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi. According to the Ministry of Communications, the Department of Posts earned revenue of Rs 15,296 crore in 2025-26, up 16% on the previous year; the Rs 11,496.18 crore figure quoted here earlier was out of date.
India is divided into 23 postal circles, each headed by a Chief Postmaster General, and each circle is split into postal divisions. Post offices fall into three classes: Head Post Offices, Sub Post Offices and Branch Post Offices (the rural offices once called Extra-Departmental, or E.D., branch offices). As of March 2025, India had 164,999 post offices, 149,385 of them in rural areas.
The post office at Hikkim in Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley, at about 4,400 m (roughly 14,400 ft) above sea level, is often described as one of the highest post offices in the world.
Indian Post Offices Timings And Post Office Working Days
There is no single national post office timing in India. Each office sets its counter hours, which commonly start between 8 and 10 AM and end between 4 and 6 PM; large GPOs and head post offices often stay open longer.
Post office working hours on Saturday: Saturday is a normal working day, and most offices keep the same or slightly shorter counter hours as on weekdays.
Most post offices are closed on Sunday. Exceptions include some GPOs and head post offices with Sunday counters (Chennai GPO opens 10 AM to 5 PM on Sundays) and night post offices in some cities. Hours can also be extended on special occasions when the department directs it.
Post offices close on the gazetted holidays in India Post’s holiday list and on any regional holidays declared for their postal circle. They do not close on ordinary Saturdays: Saturday post office timings are usually the same as, or slightly shorter than, weekday hours.
To keep away from the group and finish your work rapidly, you should know the initial times and working hours.
In the event that conceivable, try not to visit the post office not long before noon. What’s more, afternoon, the post office will become profoundly busy. All things being equal, ensure you visit a close by post office during post office working hours.
The table below shows a typical weekly pattern only. Actual counter hours differ by office (Chennai GPO, for example, is open 8 AM to 8:30 PM Monday to Saturday), so confirm your local office’s hours:
| Days | Indian Post Office Timings |
| Sunday | OFF |
| Monday | 8 AM to 4 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM to 4 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM to 4 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM to 4 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM to 4 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM to 4 PM |
You can keep a thought regarding the close by post office timings in your area by calling the closest office as some of the time it very well may be shut because of nearby occasions which aren’t recorded above and finish your work right away. You should likewise have a thought regarding post office occasions to appropriately set your arrangements.
Indian Post Office Lunch Time
Indian post office timings for lunch differ from one circle to another. This noon is a break from representatives’ functioning hours. In the event that you visit a post office during noon, you need to hold on until the post office noon is over to finish your work.
Indian Post Office lunch time: the 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM or 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM windows often quoted online are not a national rule. Break timings, where they apply, are set by each office, so ask your local office.
An idea is to visit a post office when it opens or on the other hand in the event that you don’t have a lot of work visit an hour prior to noon.
Indian Post Office Daily Working
Many kinds of works are being directed in a post office. The different services are:
- Cash settlement
- Mail services
- Speed post
- Life insurance
- Banking services
- Retail benefits
New administrations are additionally being presented in the post offices with time and innovation. With the assistance of mail administrations and speed post, individuals can undoubtedly send and get letters and packages. Speed Post can be booked at any counter during that office’s working hours. For the premium Speed Post 24 and 48 services, the booking cut-off for same-day dispatch is 4 PM at post offices and 6 PM at bulk booking centres.
📅 Indian Post Office Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 26 January 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| 04 March 2026 | Wednesday | Holi |
| 21 March 2026 | Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr (Eid) |
| 26 March 2026 | Thursday | Ram Navami |
| 31 March 2026 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti |
| 03 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 01 May 2026 | Friday | Buddha Purnima |
| 27 May 2026 | Wednesday | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) |
| 26 June 2026 | Friday | Muharram |
| 15 August 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 26 August 2026 | Wednesday | Id-e-Milad (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday) |
| 02 October 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti |
The table above lists India Post’s main holidays for 2026. Holi and Ram Navami are not on India Post’s all-India list and are observed only in postal circles that adopted them. Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) was moved from 27 May to 28 May 2026 for central government offices in Delhi by a Personnel Ministry order of 22 May 2026. The remaining all-India holidays of 2026 are Dussehra (20 October), Diwali (8 November), Guru Nanak’s Birthday (24 November) and Christmas (25 December).
FAQ’s
What are the Post Office Timings on Saturday?
Indian post offices are open on Saturdays unless the day is a gazetted holiday. Saturday counter hours are usually the same as, or slightly shorter than, that office’s weekday hours.
What are the post office’s speed post hours?
Speed Post can be booked Monday to Saturday during an office’s counter hours. Some GPOs, head post offices and night post offices accept bookings later, and a few offices offer round-the-clock booking, such as the eight post offices, including Hyderabad GPO and the Transit Mail Office in Secunderabad, where the Telangana Postal Circle introduced 24×7 booking in November 2025.
When the Post workplaces in Delhi are open?
Inside the circle, the initial hour of the post office in Delhi differs. Monday through Saturday, the post office opens at 8 a.m., 9 a.m., or 10 a.m. furthermore, shuts down at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., or 6 p.m.
What are the active times for the post office in Bangalore?
The time that the post office in Bangalore is open changes relying upon where you are in the circle. Many offices open between 8 and 10 a.m. and close between 4 and 6 p.m., but timings differ by office, so check the individual post office.
When does the post office in Chennai open?
The post office hours in Chennai fluctuate contingent upon where you are in the circle. Monday through Saturday, the post office opens at 8 a.m., 9 a.m., or 10 a.m. and also, shuts down at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., or 6 p.m.
Is Speed Posting functional on Second Saturday?
Yes. Post offices book and deliver Speed Post on the second Saturday of the month unless it is a gazetted holiday. The belief that post offices close on second Saturdays comes from bank holiday rules, which do not apply to post office counters.
What time does India Post open on Sunday?
Most India Post offices are closed on Sunday, but not all: some GPOs and head post offices run Sunday counters (Chennai GPO is open 10 AM to 5 PM) and some cities have night post offices. India Post’s helpline IVRS also works on Sundays.
What is the Official Website of the India Post Office
www.indiapost.gov.in is the Official Website.
What Is the Speed Post Timing?
Speed Post booking hours depend on the type of office (head office, sub office or branch office). The hours below are indicative only, not an official India Post schedule, so confirm with your office:
- Head office: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Sub-office: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Branch office: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Does Speed Post Deliver At Night?
Speed Post is delivered on the local delivery beats, and India Post does not publish a single national cut-off time, so late-evening delivery depends on the area. Since October 2025, senders can also choose OTP-based delivery, where the recipient confirms receipt with a one-time password.
What Happens If the Speed Post Is Not Delivered?
If a Speed Post item cannot be delivered, the postman usually leaves an intimation and the item is held at the delivery post office for a limited period before it is returned to the sender. The 18-day and 21-day figures quoted here earlier could not be confirmed against India Post’s published rules, so track the item and ask the delivery office how long it will be held.
Is the Second Saturday Holiday For An Indian Post Office?
No. Post offices, including their Post Office Savings Bank counters, are open on the second and fourth Saturdays unless the day is a gazetted holiday. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) is a separate payments bank, and commercial banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays, so check IPPB-specific services with your branch.
Could I at any point Collect the Parcel Post Office?
Yes. Carry the delivery notice, if one was left, and an original photo ID (not a photocopy). If someone else collects the parcel for the addressee, the office may ask for an authorisation letter and the addressee’s ID.
Conclusion
Post offices assume a fundamental part at the center of nearby networks. People and organizations depend on the postal administrations for some administrations, sending and getting things as well as getting to banking, taking care of bills, getting neighborhood data, and numerous different reasons. So, one ought to know about post office working days, post office working hours, post office half days, and post office noon. Finish the work advantageously in the post office with no columns by visiting during suitable post office work hours. We have also listed India Post’s 2026 holidays above so you can avoid a wasted trip.
That covers post office timings in India, including lunch breaks, Speed Post hours and holidays. If you have a question about this guide, ask in the comments below.
How Can You Check the Exact Timing of Your Local Post Office?
The most reliable way to check a post office’s timing is to ask that office directly, because India Post lets each office set its own counter hours. These steps help:
- Use Locate Post Office on indiapost.gov.in. India Post’s website has a Locate Post Office tool under Track and Trace Services that lists offices by PIN code and name.
- Use the Dak Sewa app. India Post’s official DakSewa mobile app gives access to post office search, tracking and tariff tools.
- Call the India Post helpline. The toll-free number 1800 266 6868 is staffed from 8 AM to 8 PM; its IVRS is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, except on gazetted holidays.
- Check the circle holiday list. India Post’s holiday page lists all-India holidays and has a dropdown for each postal circle’s regional holidays.
- Phone or visit the office once. Map listings are often out of date; the office itself can confirm counter hours, lunch breaks and Speed Post cut-off times.
What Changed in Speed Post and Registered Post?
Registered Post no longer exists as a separate service. India Post merged Registered Post into Speed Post in 2025. News reports in mid-2025, including in Business Standard, gave 1 September 2025 as the date, but the Department of Posts, in a Press Information Bureau release of 30 September 2025, said the overhaul would take effect on 1 October 2025, together with the new tariff. Registration is now a paid add-on to a Speed Post article rather than a standalone product.
Speed Post tariffs were revised from 1 October 2025, the first revision since October 2012, according to The Free Press Journal and Deccan Chronicle. GST is now shown separately on top of the base tariff. Sample inland Speed Post document rates, as of September 2026:
| Weight | Local | Up to 200 km to above 2,000 km |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 g | Rs 19 | Rs 47 |
| 51 g to 250 g | Rs 24 | Rs 59 to Rs 77 |
| 251 g to 500 g | Rs 28 | Rs 70 to Rs 93 |
All rates exclude GST, and heavier items and parcels use separate slabs, so check India Post’s tariff calculator before booking.
- Add-ons: registration and OTP-based delivery cost Rs 5 plus GST per item.
- Discounts: students get 10% off the tariff and new bulk customers get 5%, according to Deccan Chronicle.
- New features: online payment, SMS delivery notifications and real-time tracking were added with the revision.
What Are Speed Post 24 and Speed Post 48?
Speed Post 24 and Speed Post 48 are India Post’s premium time-guaranteed services, launched in March 2026 by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, according to Business Today. They use dedicated processing and priority air transport between six cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
- Services: 24 Speed Post, 24 Speed Post Parcel and 48 Speed Post.
- Price: 24 Speed Post starts at Rs 38 for a local item up to 50 g; 24 Speed Post Parcel starts at Rs 200 for up to 500 g.
- Cut-off: book before 4 PM at a post office, or before 6 PM at a bulk booking centre, for same-day dispatch.
- Guarantee: the full postage is refunded if next-day delivery is missed, claimable online within 7 days.
For other delivery options, compare India Post with private operators in our guide to the top courier service providers in India.
Remaining Holidays on India Post’s All-India List
India Post’s official holiday page lists 14 all-India holidays for 2026. Four of them fall after this guide’s September 2026 update and are missing from the table above:
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 20 October 2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Diwali (Deepavali) |
| 24 November 2026 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak’s Birthday |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
Postal circles add regional holidays, and moon-dependent festivals can shift at short notice, as Id-ul-Zuha did in May 2026. Post office holidays are not the same as bank holidays; see our list of bank holidays in India for the RBI calendar.
India Post at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1 October 1854, under Lord Dalhousie |
| Headquarters | Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi |
| Governing law | Post Office Act, 2023, in force since 18 June 2024 (replaced the Indian Post Office Act, 1898) |
| Postal circles | 23, each headed by a Chief Postmaster General |
| Post offices | 164,999, of which 149,385 rural (March 2025) |
| Revenue | Rs 15,296 crore in 2025-26, up 16% (Ministry of Communications) |
| Helpline | 1800 266 6868 (8 AM to 8 PM) |
What Services Can You Use at a Post Office?
An Indian post office offers far more than letters. Services vary by office size, but commonly include:
- Mail and parcels: Speed Post (with optional registration), ordinary letters, parcels and international mail.
- Savings schemes: Post Office Savings Bank accounts and small savings schemes such as the Public Provident Fund (PPF) account and the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana for girls. This guide gives information only, not investment advice.
- Payments bank: India Post Payments Bank accounts and doorstep banking; see our guide to IPPB login and account registration.
- Aadhaar services: many post offices host Aadhaar enrolment and update counters, which the government highlighted for child enrolments in January 2026; see how to apply for an Aadhaar card.
- Insurance: Postal Life Insurance and Rural Postal Life Insurance policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the post office open on Saturday in India?
Yes. Indian post offices are open on Saturdays, including the second and fourth Saturdays, unless the day is a gazetted holiday. Saturday counter hours are usually the same as or slightly shorter than weekday hours at that office.
Is the post office open on Sunday?
Most post offices are closed on Sunday. Some GPOs, head post offices and night post offices keep Sunday counters; Chennai GPO, for example, is open 10 AM to 5 PM on Sundays.
Is Registered Post still available?
Not as a separate service. India Post merged Registered Post into Speed Post, and since 1 October 2025 registration has been a Rs 5 plus GST add-on to a Speed Post article.
How much does Speed Post cost now?
As of September 2026, an inland Speed Post document up to 50 g costs Rs 19 locally and Rs 47 beyond the local area, plus GST, under the tariff in force since 1 October 2025.
What is the India Post customer care number?
The India Post helpline is 1800 266 6868, staffed from 8 AM to 8 PM. Its IVRS works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, except on gazetted holidays.
Are post offices closed on bank holidays?
Not always. Post offices follow India Post’s holiday list and their postal circle’s regional holidays, not the RBI bank holiday calendar, so a bank holiday may be a normal post office working day.
